Residents protest over evictions

Pretoria - Residents of Itireleng informal settlement near Laudium, west of Pretoria, were chanting and burning tyres in their attempt to resist evictions by the Red Ants on Monday.

The Red Ants, the security company used to remove illegal squatters from properties, started arriving at 08:50 while heavily armed police kept at eye on protesters.

According SABC news, the residents - who are illegally occupying the area - were protesting against an order for their eviction which was granted by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to the land owner, cement company PPC.

The broadcaster said more than 500 families were due to be evicted by the sheriff of the court.

However, residents said they would not leave the area until they had been provided with alternative accommodation.